"You go on ahead, we'll meet you there." Kara said as she put the last bag in the car the next day.
"You sure?" Eliza asked.
"We won't all fit in there anyway." Kara pointed out.
"Do you want us to take Chewie?" The teenage Kara asked.
"That would be great." Her aunt smiled as MJ emerged from the house and silently sat in the back of the car.
"He is so not a morning person." The older Kara commented as her daughter approached the car with Chewie.
"Morning Sweetie." Eliza smiled.
"Morning." The teen said.
"Why don't you help get Chewie settled, I'll get your aunt." Kara said to her daughter before disappearing.
"How are you feeling?" The teenage Kara asked her cousin.
"Okay, I guess." She said picking up Chewie and offering him to her cousin.
"You better give him to grandma." The teenage Kara said before explaining. "I'm driving."
"Are you sedating your mom?" The teenage Alex asked before Eliza got in the back and took Chewie from her youngest granddaughter. Meanwhile they heard complaining coming from inside the house.
"In hindsight should have sedated her." The teenage Kara said as her aunt helped her mother to the car. As she watched her mother complain as her aunt helped her into the car she repeated. "Yeah, so should have sedated her. This is going to be a long ride."
"I heard that." Her mother called from inside the car.
"Good luck." Her aunt called over the car.
"Thanks." The teen said getting in he driver's seat.
"We don't have to go straight there." Kara pointed out as she and her daughter watched them leave. "We could go somewhere first."
"Can we go straight there?" The teen asked.
"Of course." Kara smiled.
00
Hearing the car pull onto the drive way Kara a few hours later went out to meet them. As soon as a car door opened Chewie bolted from the car straight past Kara into the house.
"Took you guys long enough." Kara smiled as the humans in the car got out.
"Some of us are constrained to the speed limit especially with mom backseat driving." The teenage Kara said.
"I was not backseat driving. I was giving constructive advice." Alex protested as the older Kara helped her out of the car. She then looked at her sister and said. "I can walk to the house."
"Okay." Kara said supporting her sister as she slowly limped to the house.
"Where's Alex?" She asked.
"Inside." Kara explained as MJ walked past them.
"Bags!" Alex commanded causing MJ to turn and walk back to the car muttering.
"Sure you don't want me to fly you in?" Kara asked her sister, noticing her breathing was getting more laboured.
"I'm fine." Alex said slowly stepping into the house, passing her namesake as she did so as the teenager went to help get the bags in.
"You sure you are okay?" Kara asked her sister as she helped her sit down on the couch.
"I'm fine." Alex said breathlessly.
"I'll get you some water." Her sister said going to the kitchen as Chewie ran back into the house and jumped up onto Alex.
"I don't have food." She pointed out to the dog who immediately jumped off and searched for the teenage Alex.
"He has way too much energy." The older Alex commented to her sister.
"Yes he does." Kara agreed passing her sister some water.
"Everything is unpacked from the car." The teenage Kara said jogging downstairs.
"Thanks." Her mother said. "You have any plans now?"
"No."
"We could play some games." The older Kara suggested.
"I'm good." MJ said.
"Perhaps you can go to the shops and get supplies?" Eliza asked looking at the teens. Seeing their lack of enthusiasm she added. "Or we can play games."
"We'll see you in an hour." The teenage Kara said leading her brother and cousin out of the house.
00
"You sure you don't want me to take you upstairs?" The older Kara asked her sister a little later.
"I'm fine." She said stroking Chewie who had taken up residence on her lap.
"You don't look it." Kara pointed out.
"Thanks."
"I mean it, you look really drained."
"Well the walk from the car was a little more tiring than I thought it would be. But I'm okay." She assured her. "How's Alex doing?"
"Her confidence had nose dived." Kara said. "The worst part is she seems to be blaming herself."
"Why?" Eliza asked.
"I don't know. She has it in her head that she should have known it was Malaise and she should have been able to overcome her fears. I'm hoping Kara can help her." The older Kara said.
"And how are you doing?" Eliza asked.
"Honestly? I'm angry. Really angry."
"I don't blame you." Alex said.
"But I can't be angry can I? I mean Supergirl can't afford to be angry. And if I'm angry Alex will pick up on it and it will make her feel more guilty." She said as the front door opened and the teenage Kara came in carrying lots of bags. As she walked in Chewie jumped off the couch and ran out of the door.
"I'm back." The teen said.
"Where are the others?" Her mother asked as her aunt took the bags off her.
"Alex is sitting on the beach, I'm guessing that is where Chewie just ran to and MJ went back into town."
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Well, they were kinda at each other throats and me asking why didn't help. Then MJ stomped off and Alex then apologised and said she'd give everyone space. So what's going on with Alex and MJ?" The teenage Kara asked her mother.
"No idea. It's been going on for months."
"Since the big fight?"
"Alex said it started before then." The older Kara said.
"And they still won't say what it was about?"
"No." The older Alex said. "Every time I ask I get accused of taking sides."
"And Alex hasn't told you?" The teenager asked her aunt.
"No. She shuts me down every time and says it doesn't matter. Lena thinks it has something to do with MJ's girlfriend. But we have no way of checking. Maybe one of them will tell you."
"Not if just now was anything to go by. But I talk to them." Th teen said, but on seeing her aunt's pleading look she added. "Now. I'll talk to them now."
00
"Okay, I tried not prying." The teenage Kara said joining her brother. "But this is stupid. What happened?"
"When?"
"With you and Alex."
"I told you, she wouldn't help."
"You could forgive her."
"Why should I?" MJ asked.
"What's going on with you?"
"You're on their side?"
"Who is they and what side? All I asked was what's going on?" His sister pointed out.
"I'm just sick of always being second best."
"How are you, mom's clear favourite, second best?"
"Seriously?" MJ asked.
"Yeah seriously, you are the favourite."
"Was the favourite." MJ corrected. "Now it's Alex. Every time I screw up mom points out how conscientious Alex is and how much work she does."
"Well you kinda bring that on yourself." His sister reminded him. "I mean you could study, you just choose not to." She paused and then asked. "But apart from caring about school, has Alex done something?"
"No. Not exactly."
"That's not a no."
"Technically it's no and that's the problem."
"I'm lost."
"I already told you I asked her for help with something. She said no."
"Any more details?"
"No."
"Alex has always come though for you." His sister reminded him, "So if she refused, my guess is she doesn't know how important it is to you. Or whatever it is would make Kara angry. The fact you won't tell me what it is, suggests it's the latter, in which case she is probably doing you a favour."
"So you're on her side too."
"There are no sides." Kara said. "But if you are feeling isolated maybe that is because you are cutting us off. Talk to me. What is it you need help with?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yet you and Alex are barely talking because of it. That sounds like something." His sister argued. "No one can force you to be friends, but you'll always be family." Kara reminded him.
"Except we're not are we? She's an alien. We don't share any DNA."
"So I'm not your sister anymore?"
"I didn't mean it like that. It's just that sometimes I wish things were how they used to be. You know before the accident."
"I miss her too." His sister said. "And I know how miserable it feels, but taking it out on everyone won't bring her back."
"That's not what I'm doing. What happened with Alex has nothing to do with that."
"Then what is it about?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Fine, but mom is really worried about you.
"Well you know how important she thinks grades are."
"She's not worried about your grades. Well she is, but that's not the real thing she's worried about. You should go talk to her."
00
"You going to hide out here all Christmas?" Kara asked her cousin as she joined her on the beach.
"I'm not hiding. I like watching the waves."
"You want to go surfing?"
"No. Not after what happened. But don't tell mom that."
"Is that why you are sitting so far back from the water?" The older teen asked.
"Yes."
"When you are ready to go in, let me know and I will go with you." The younger Kara offered.
"Thanks." Alex said as she stroked Chewie.
"So, you going to avoid MJ the entire time?"
"It's easier to stay away."
"Why?"
"I just make him angry."
"Well I think he's a little jealous and he's not sure how to deal with it."
"Jealous of what?"
"You. He'll get over it, but in the mean time he probably needs a little slack or forgiveness."
"MJ blames me for everything and every time something goes right for me or I get praised it gets worse. So if I go in and make an effort I'll get praised and he'll be more upset with me." The teenage Alex said.
"That's no reason to hide out here. I mean if MJ wants to avoid you he can leave."
-00-
"How are you doing?" The adult Alex asked her sister as they sat in the lounge.
"I'm not the one with a hole in my leg." Kara pointed out.
"Well, this hole isn't going anywhere." Alex pointed out. "How are you doing?"
"I'm scared." Kara confessed. "And I hate seeing Alex like this."
"So why are you in here with me rather than with Alex?"
"Kara was talking to her. I thought she might have more luck getting her to open up. Besides I am so angry right now and I don't want Alex to pick up on it."
"We will get those responsible." Alex said.
"We have been saying that for months and got nowhere, do you really still believe it?"
"Yes. And you need to too." Alex replied. "What they did was risky, which means we must be getting close."
Before Kara could say anything the door opened and the teenage Kara came in carrying a tray.
"I bring coffee." The teenage Kara said.
"Where's Alex?" Her aunt asked.
"Helping grandma cook."
"Did she say anything?"
"Not really." The teen said handing her mother her cup.
"Sorry to put all this on you." Her aunt said.
"It's fine." The teen smiled.
"Where's your brother?"
"No idea. Last I saw sitting way down the beach on the phone. I tried talking to him, but I didn't get very far."
"Let me guess he seemed angry?" Alex asked.
"And sensitive and a little jealous."
"Of what?" Her mother asked.
"Alex. Which might explain his attitude."
00
"Your mom and aunt used to fight all the time." Eliza said as her granddaughter chopped some carrots. "Alex didn't take it well when Kara first came to live with us and went through phases of just pretending your mom didn't exist. Eventually they realised how important they were to each other." Eliza said. "But the important thing, is even when they weren't talking, they still looked out for each other."
"I do." Alex said. "Although that just makes MJ more angry."
"One day I'm sure he'll appreciate it." Eliza said before changing topics and asking. "Are you feeling better?"
"Sure."
"Is that why you are avoiding going in the water?"
"It's winter." The teen shrugged.
"That doesn't normally stop you." Eliza reminded her.
"Just don't feel like it."
"Alex, there is nothing wrong with admitting you are scared to go in." Eliza pointed out.
"Yes there is. I'm meant to be brave like mom."
"Your mom is brave, but that doesn't mean she isn't afraid." Eliza said. "There is nothing wrong with being afraid. Bravery is accepting that fear and then overcoming it."
"I just feel like I let her down."
"I promise you she doesn't think that." Eliza said.
00
As the household slept the residents all started to share a dream of drowning. Waking, dripping in sweat and her heart racing the older Kara's super hearing picked up several thumps from the room her daughter and niece were sleeping in. Jumping out of bed she ran into the room and burst in. As she entered she saw objects fly round the room as her niece tried to shelter. Hurrying to her daughter, who remained asleep on the floor, her face contorted in fear she grabbed hold of her and try to wake her. As her eyes opened Kara assured her.
"It's okay. It was a dream. You're safe." She soothed as she looked over to her niece looking for damage.
"I'll give you some space." The teenage Kara said leaving the room, shutting the door behind her to give them privacy.
"I'm sorry." The teenage Alex said.
"For what?" Kara asked confused.
"This." The teen said looking at all the damage in the room.
"I can fix that in no time" Kara smiled. "Right now I'm more worried about you. That was some dream."
"How do- wait did I share it?"
"Yes."
"With everyone?"
"I guess." Kara said before seeing her daughter's mortified look.
"You have nothing to feel embarrassed about." Kara said. "I'm just so sorry you had to go through that."